by Alex Schwartz

Many highly touted high school athletes let the hype get to their head and think that they can do it all. Thus, it's refreshing when a kid realizes that he is not only perfect, but is far from it. Nolan Dennis '09 of Richland (TX) is one of those kids. The 6'6 shooting guard has already committed to the 2008 NCAA runner-up Memphis Tigers, but knows he has to work on his game. The accolades and attention he has received have not gotten to Dennis. One of his recent honors was being selected to participate in the Boost Mobile Elite 24 Classic at Rucker Park in Harlem, New York. Although Nolan was an alternate for one of the two players (Jereme Richmond '10 and Michael Gilchrist '11) that were taken off the roster, it's impressive to make the game nonetheless. I spoke with Dennis the day before the actual game at Rucker Park after the two squads scrimmaged.

NB: You were an alternate for the game. Did you know that was a backup plan, that you’d have a chance to come in here, or . . . was [it] spur of the moment?
ND: It was spur of the moment. I heard about it, I just heard about the Elite 24 [Classic]. Last year—because I’m really good friends with Anthony Randolph [and] he came here and they said it was against the rules to come play in this because of Texas rules. . . . Basically, they said I was invited, and so I called it off because of Texas [rules], so it was kind on-and-off and so I went to an alternative [event], but I’m just out here having fun. There’s no problem with it being the Elite 24, top 24 people in the nation, there’s no problem with it.

NB: Do you see it as [really being] the top 24 players in the nation? Are there any players that you can think of that should be here or some guys that shouldn’t be here, or do you think this is really the cream of the crop?
ND: Oh, there [are] a lot of players that should be here, a lot of players. You can’t really say this is the elite 24 because there [are] players that aren’t even on the rankings that are at this type of talent [level]. I [have] seen back home in Texas all the time people [that] have this type of talent. . . . It’s good to say this is the top 24 players, but there [are] a lot of players that can be in . . . my position right now. I’m just happy that I’m in this position.

NB: How did you make your decision [to commit to Memphis]?
ND:  I made my decision . . . after elite camp. We went out there, I worked out with all the [players], did the drills, saw the school, played at the FedEx Forum [in] a scrimmage and then I just knew right then and there exactly where I wanted to go.

NB: Was there anything . . . specific that stood out to you the most?
ND: The most? It was basically just the practice, they way he [Memphis Head Coach John Calipari] pushes his players to the next level. He got Derrick Rose [and] CDR [Chris Douglas-Roberts] to the next level. [It was] the way he pushes you, he wants the best potential out of you. I think he can . . . get the best out of me and I think he can get me to the next level.

NB: What do you see as the strongest point in your game and the weakest point in your game?
ND: I’m [going to] start with my weakest point. The weakest point is basically everything. I need to work on everything: ball-handling, . . . basketball IQ, . . . dribbling, shooting, every little thing that needs t be work on. And the strongest point [of my game] is that I basically can be a very versatile person [in that I can do things like] rebound [and] shoot, but my weakest point is just—and strength, that’s a real big thing, a real big, I want to work on my strength—but basically weakness is just [everything]. I want to get better and  just work on everything.

It's clear that Dennis recognizes that he has work to do to become the best player that he can be. Although Nolan struggled at the Elite 24 Classic, if he bulks up he could have a bright future. Getting bigger will go a long way in helping the Lone Star State to improving his overall game. The Memphis-commit is apparently a humble kid, which is nice to see. As Dennis said himself, "I have to work on everything." Expect to see Nolan working hard for years to come.

Note- photo is from http://scouthoops.scout.com/.